New guidelines for violence prevention: Safety for clinic employees!

New guidelines for violence prevention: Safety for clinic employees!

Düsseldorf (ots)

The Hospital Association of North Rhine-Westphalia (KGNW) has published a new guideline for violence prevention that was developed specifically for employees in clinics. At a presentation of the guidelines, which was accompanied by Interior Minister Herbert Reul and Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann, the KGNW officially joined the prevention network #sicherimdienst. The aim is to better protect employees in the healthcare sector from violent attacks and thus increase safety in the workplace.

In recent years, violent incidents in the healthcare sector have become increasingly common. This was described by Herbert Reul as follows: “The people in the clinics who work around the clock to ensure the health of sick people deserve respect and recognition, not violence or attacks.” Reul referred to an incident in Ratingen and recent attacks on the staff of a hospital in Essen, which illustrate the need for an effective violence protection concept. He emphasized the importance of working with the KGNW to strengthen protection for all involved.

Background and initiative

The KGNW has joined the prevention network to ensure a sustainable approach to violence prevention work in North Rhine-Westphalia hospitals. A central point of this initiative is the exchange between the state government and the healthcare system created as part of a round table in May 2023. Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann emphasized that violence in the health sector was unacceptable and alarming. A specific case in which several employees were attacked in a hospital in Essen underscores the urgency of the situation.

Laumann called for these incidents to be clarified quickly and for clear consequences for the perpetrators. The need for effective violence prevention is becoming increasingly clear, which is why KGNW's involvement in the “Safe on Duty” initiative is of great importance. The guide provides valuable resources and recommendations for hospitals and their employees.

Dr. Matthias Ernst, Vice President of the KGNW, commented on the challenges that hospital employees are faced with: "The fuse seems to be getting shorter for many people. Experiences of violence are now part of everyday life, which is unacceptable." He emphasized the zero-tolerance policy towards violence and the need to deal sensitively with experiences of violence in everyday hospital life. The new guide, which emerged from the work of a group of healthcare professionals, is intended to help review or expand existing protection concepts.

This guide is particularly important for employees in direct patient relationships, such as nurses and doctors. It not only provides basic security guidelines, but also practical recommendations for action that can be used in crisis situations. The guide is sent to hospitals in North Rhine-Westphalia and is also available online to ensure broad accessibility.